This shoot was a particularly special one for a few reasons. Kat originally came to me after winning my competition with Horse&Rider BNB and Totleywells Equestrian, and I was so excited to finally meet her and her two ponies, Marley and Gracie.
The shoot itself took place in early August, and, as is so often the way in Scotland, right in the middle of what had otherwise been a wonderfully warm summer, we were handed a day that felt much more like March! But we decided to go ahead regardless, and I am so glad we did.
Kat has two very different ponies. Marley is her gorgeous Connemara, while Gracie was just two years old at the time of the shoot. Gracie has already been enjoying little bits of in-hand showing, and she was such a pleasure to work with. Despite being young, she took everything in her stride and gave us some gorgeous images.
The yard where Kat is based has one of the most wonderful backdrops, with the Ochils stretching out behind it. Naturally, we made the most of that, using the landscape for some beautiful portraits before moving around the yard and incorporating the outdoor stables too.
One of my favourite parts of the shoot was actually towards the end, when we took things right back to basics and spent some relaxed time in the field with the ponies. It gave me the chance to really get to know them both, and I loved seeing just how different their personalities were.
And now, at the time of writing this, Marley has sadly passed away following worsening health issues.
It makes this shoot feel even more special knowing that we were able to capture this chapter of Kat and Marley's life together this summer. You never quite know which photographs will become the ones you treasure most, and that is one of the reasons I love what I do so much. These aren't simply photographs of Marley, they become a legacy that gets to live on for many years to come.
Kat chose a 6in1 frame featuring Marley, alongside some digital images of both ponies, and I honestly cannot wait to see that frame up on her wall. I know it will be something incredibly special to have at home.
Kat, thank you so much for trusting me with your two very special ponies, and for going ahead with us despite the very un-summer-like weather! I loved getting to know Marley and Gracie, and I am so pleased we were able to create these memories together.
Love Kat's gallery of images? I'd love to hear about the special 4-legged members of your family, get in touch below for a non-obligatory chat about all things equine photoshoot!